OBJECTIVES: Managing patients with refractory head and neck cancer pain is one of the more challenging issues in clinical practice, and traditional intrathecal drug delivery also fails to provide adequate analgesia. There are currently no comprehensive and effective treatment methods. This study aims to observe the efficacy and safety of treating intractable head and neck cancer pain with morphine pump via lumbar approach to the prepontine cistern. METHODS: A total of 18 patients with intractable head and neck cancer pain treated with prepontine cistern morphine pumps were selected from the Department of Pain Management, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between September 2019 and July 2023. Statistical analysis was performed on patients' preoperative and postoperative (1 week, 1 month, and 2 months after surgery), Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) scores, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores, daily oral morphine consumption, the number of daily breakthrough pain episodes, and postoperative daily intrathecal morphine dosage. RESULTS: The NRS scores, SDS scores, daily oral morphine consumption, and the number of daily breakthrough pain episodes of patients at each time point after surgery were significantly lower than before surgery (all P<0.05). With the gradual increase in the dosage of intrathecal morphine, the daily oral morphine consumption of patients at each postoperative time point was significantly reduced compared to preoperative levels (all P<0.05). The complications related to the operation were mild, including nausea in 5 cases (31.3%), headache in 2 cases (12.5%); hypotension, urine retention, hypersomnia and constipation in 1 case (6.3% each), and no serious adverse events occurred. All improved and were discharged after symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSIONS The implantation of prepontine cistern morphine pump effectively controls intractable head and neck cancer pain, demonstrating characteristics of minimal invasiveness, mild side effects, and low medication dosage under the premise of standardized procedures.
Humans ; Morphine/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery* ; Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage* ; Cancer Pain/drug therapy* ; Pain, Intractable/etiology* ; Aged ; Adult ; Infusion Pumps, Implantable ; Pain Management/methods*

OBJECTIVES: To explore the efficacy of DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy for management of cancer pain and provide reference for its standardized clinical application. Methods and. RESULTS: Recommendations were formulated based on literature review and expert group discussion, and consensus was reached following expert consultation. The consensus recommendations are comprehensive, covering the entire treatment procedures from preoperative assessment and preparation, surgical operation process, postoperative management and traditional Chinese medicine treatment to individualized treatment planning. The study results showed that the treatment plans combining traditional Chinese with Western medicine effectively alleviated cancer pain, reduced the use of opioid drugs, and significantly improved the quality of life and enhanced immune function of the patients. Postoperative follow-up suggested good treatment tolerance among the patients without serious complications. CONCLUSIONS The formulated consensus is comprehensive and can provide reference for clinicians to use DSA-guided intrathecal drug delivery system combined with Zi Wu Liu Zhu Acupoint Therapy. The combined treatment has a high clinical value with a good safety profile for management of cancer pain.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Pain Management/methods* ; China

Cancer pain is one of the most common symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the Mas-related gene C (MrgC) receptors on bone cancer pain. Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured after the inoculation of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells into the tibia of adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of MrgC receptor agonist bovine adrenal medulla 8-22 (BAM8-22) on nociceptive behaviors were investigated after intrathecal injection on days 16 and 17. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in the spinal dorsal cord, and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)-, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)- and IL-1β-positive neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were examined by immunofluorescence staining. The expression of nNOS and IL-1β proteins in the spinal dorsal horn and the DRG was examined by Western blotting after treatment with (Tyr6)-γ2-MSH-6-12 (MSH), which was another MrgC receptor agonist. The results showed that intrathecal injection of BAM8-22 (30 nmol) attenuated mechanical allodynia in a rat model of bone cancer pain and the effects could last for about 60 min, and single administration of BAM8-22 for two consecutive days reduced mechanical allodynia by about half on the third day. Moreover, the number of GFAP-positive cells in the spinal dorsal horn, and the number of CGRP-, nNOS- and IL-1β-positive neurons in the DRG were decreased. Similarly, intrathecal administration of MSH (15 nmol) reduced the expression of nNOS and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn and the DRG. In conclusion, activation of MrgC receptors suppresses the activation of astrocytes in the spinal dorsal cord and the expression of CGRP, nNOS, and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal cord and/or DRG, which may underlie the inhibition of bone cancer pain. These findings provide a novel strategy for the treatment of bone cancer pain.
Animals ; Cancer Pain/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Bone Neoplasms/complications* ; Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism* ; Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn/metabolism* ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics* ; Female ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/genetics* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Peptide Fragments/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Miao medicinal crossbow acupuncture therapy as adjuvant treatment for lung cancer pain based on oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablet. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with lung cancer pain were randomized into an observation group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and a control group (30 cases). In the control group, oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablet was given orally, 10 mg a time, once every 12 hours. On the basis of the treatment in the control group, Miao medicinal crossbow acupuncture therapy was applied once every other day in the observation group. The treatment of 14 days was required in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the numerical rating scale (NRS) score, number of break-out pain and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were observed in the two groups. The equivalent oxycodone consumption and rate of adverse reactions were recorded, the analgesic effect was evaluated in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the NRS scores and number of break-out pain were decreased while the KPS scores were increased after treatment in the two groups (P<0.01). After treatment, the NRS score and number of break-out pain in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.01), the KPS score in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). The equivalent oxycodone consumption of whole course and the rate of adverse reactions i.e. constipation, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting in the observation group were lower than the control group (P<0.05). The analgesic effect rate was 93.1% (27/29) in the observation group, which was superior to 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release tablet, Miao medicinal crossbow acupuncture therapy as adjuvant treatment can effectively relieve the pain degree, reduce the number of break-out pain and improve the health status and quality of life in patients with lung cancer pain, enhance the efficacy of medication and reduce its adverse reactions.
Humans ; Cancer Pain ; Oxycodone ; Quality of Life ; Lung Neoplasms ; Pain ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Lung ; Analgesics

There is a commonality between jingjin (muscle region of meridian) and the fascial network for coordinating the balance in the body. The occurrence and the progression of tumor may disrupt the overall coordination between the fascial network and jingjin directly or indirectly, thereby, the impairment of this coordination may result in cancer pain. Rooted on the theory of overall balance of the fascial network, and combined with understanding of pain in jingjin theory, professor HUANG Jin-chang emphasizes the importance of "relaxing the knot" in treatment of cancer pain. It is recommended to select the fascia reaction point as the target point, in accordance with the principle of balance adjustment and apply various acupuncture and moxibustion therapies, such as Fu's subcutaneous needling, small-needle scalpel therapy, fire needling, and moxibustion.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Cancer Pain ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Fascia ; Neoplasms/therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion for moderate to severe cancer pain. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with moderate to severe cancer pain were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group，30 cases in each one. In the control group，opioids were taken to relief pain according to the three-step analgesic method of World Health Organization. On the base of the treatment as the control group, intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion were applied at Neiguan (PC 6), Hegu (LI 4), Zusanli (ST 36), Taichong (LR 3), etc. in the observation group, 14 days of treatment were required. The equivalent morphine consumption at the first day and whole course, the scores of cancer quality of life questionnaire-C30 (QLQ-C30) and Hamilton anxiety scale before and after treatment, and the adverse reaction rate were compared in the two groups. The total analgesic effective rate was evaluated. RESULTS: The total analgesic effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group ( CONCLUSION Intradermal needling combined with heat-sensitive moxibustion can reduce the dose of opioids, improve the quality of life, relief the anxiety in patients with moderate to severe cancer pain, and reduce the incidence of common adverse reaction of opioids.
Acupuncture Points ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Pain ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness and safety of electrothermal acupuncture therapy for patients of moderate to severe cancer pain with METHODS: A total of 60 patients of moderate to severe cancer pain with RESULTS: The variation of NRS scores in the observation group were larger than the control group 3, 5 days into treatment ( CONCLUSION On the basis of the conventional western medication for analgesia, electrothermal acupuncture could relieve pain, reduce the dose of opioid painkillers and improve the quality of life in patients of moderate to severe cancer pain with
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Oxycodone ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

Based on literature research and Delphi expert consensus method, the important acupoints for cancer pain was summarized to provide evidence basis for the formulation of
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Cancer Pain/therapy* ; Humans ; Meridians ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Publications

Based on the internationally-recognized Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) statement and Standards for Reporting Interventions in Controlled Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA), the reported quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for cancer pain during last 10 years were evaluated. The RCTs of acupuncture for cancer pain were searched by computer. The English databases included PubMed and EMbase while the Chinese databases included CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and SinoMed. The publication date of the literature was from March 2009 to March 2019. As a result, 22 Chinese RCTs and 13 English RCTs were included. According to the CONSORT statement, among the Chinese studies, 1 RCT reported primary and secondary outcomes, 8 RCTs reported randomization, none of RCTs reported allocation concealment and blind method, and 4 RCTs reported baseline data; among the English studies, 8 RCTs reported primary and secondary outcomes, 8 RCTs reported randomization, 6 RCTs reported described allocation concealment, 7 RCTs reported blind method, and 13 RCTs reported baseline data. According to the STRICTA statement, among the Chinese studies, 17 RCTs reported the name of acupoints, 6 RCTs reported depth of insertion, 17 RCTs reported acupuncture response sought, and none of RCTs reported the qualifications of acupuncturists; among the English studies, 12 RCTs reported the name of acupoints, 7 RCTs reported depth of insertion, 8 RCTs reported acupuncture response sought, and 7 RCTs reported the qualifications of acupuncturists. The Chinese RCTs have more detailed description of acupuncture intervention and theory, but not enough attention is paid to methodological description such as randomization, blindness, data analysis. On the other hand, the English RCTs have better description of methodology, but the description of theory and details of acupuncture is relatively weak. It is concluded that more efforts were needed to further improve the clinical trial design according to the CONSORT statement and STRICTA statement to improve the quality of clinical evidence.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Cancer Pain ; therapy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; complications ; therapy ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; standards

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effect of filiform fire needling on moderate and severe pain in advanced cancer. METHODS: A total of 66 patients with moderate and severe pain in advanced cancer were randomly divided into an observation group (34 cases, 4 cases dropped off) and a control group (32 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The two groups were treated with oral analgesics continuously for 4 weeks. The moderate pain patients was given bucinnazine hydrochloride tablets (starting at 30 mg, once every 6 hours, increasing by 30%-50% until the titration volume was reached), and the severe pain patients were given oxycodone hydrochloride sustained-release tablets (starting at 20 mg every 12 hours and increasing by 25%-50% until the titration volume was reached). The observation group was cooperated with filiform fire needling at point, Zusanli (ST 36), Liangqiu (ST 34), Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan(CV 4), Quchi (LI 11) and Waiguan (TE 5) once every other day for 4 weeks. The changes of numerical rating scales (NRS) scores were observed in both groups before and after treatment, and the amount of analgesics and the incidence of adverse reactions were recorded. The clinical effects in the two groups were evaluated. RESULTS: The effective rate was 90.0% (27/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 66.7% (20/30) in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the NRS scores of both groups were lower than those before treatment (<0.05), and the reducing degree in the observation group was larger than that in the control group (<0.05). The average dosage of bunarizine hydrochloride tablets and oxycodone hydrochloride sustained release tablets to titration volume in the observation group was less than that in the control group (<0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions was 23.3% (28/120) in the observation group, which was lower than 44.2% (53/120) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Filiform fire needling can alleviate pain symptoms of patients with moderate and severe pain in advanced cancer, reduce the amount of analgesics, and decrease the incidence of adverse reactions.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Cancer Pain ; therapy ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; complications ; therapy ; Oxycodone ; therapeutic use ; Pain Management ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome